Madipakkam residents seek measures to prevent flooding ahead of monsoon

Madipakkam residents have urged the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Water Resources Department (WRD) to explore building a flow-guiding wall where the Narayanapuram Lake surplus-water channel meets the Balaji Nagar storm-water drain to prevent recurring waterlogging issues in six residential localities. They urged the authorities to take immediate steps to prevent flooding ahead of monsoon.

Balaji Nagar, Kubera Nagar Extension, LIC Nagar, Alayammal Nagar, Ram Nagar, and Mahalakshmi Nagar were repeatedly affected by waterlogging during heavy rainfall. Narayanapuram Lake surplus-water channel, which is about 30-feet-wide, converges with the eight-feet-wide Balaji Nagar storm-water drain and they discharge into a common receiving channel. The Madipakkam South-East Youth Welfare Association has called for a technical assessment of the confluence, which it believes could be a critical point in the area’s drainage network.

S.B. Sekar, president of the association said during intense rainfall, surplus water released from Narayanapuram Lake and the runoff carried by the Balaji Nagar drain converge at the same location. The resulting flow conditions could affect drainage efficiency and contribute to water accumulation in nearby residential areas, the association said, seeking an engineering assessment to identify possible bottlenecks.

P. Rajendran, senior committee member of the association, said the proposed flow-training wall is intended to guide the lake’s surplus water, improve the discharge of storm-water from Balaji Nagar, and regulate the flow at the confluence. However, the association has left the structure’s location, alignment, dimensions, and design to be determined by engineers following a detailed hydraulic and structural assessment.

Sethuraman, a resident of Kuberan Nagar Extension said, “We also sought desilting and cleaning of the receiving channel and the Balaji Nagar drain, removal of garbage and weeds, and inspection of culverts and other drainage structures. We called for an assessment of the channels’ carrying capacity during peak rainfall and continued monitoring after heavy rain.”

The residents have requested a joint field inspection by the GCC and the WRD, followed by an assessment of the channels’ capacity, levels, gradient, flow direction, and possible bottlenecks. If the proposed wall is found technically feasible, they have urged the authorities to take up the work on priority before the Northeast monsoon.

“We gave a representation seeking immediate cleaning and maintenance of the drainage network, along with any additional engineering interventions recommended by the authorities, to reduce flooding risks and protect residential properties and roads. But the authorities are yet to respond to our request,” said Mr. Sethuraman.